Abiding Hope

This book was ok, but it wasn't as good to Awakening Mercy. I liked the concept and the point she was trying make, but they whined so much. I was like would you just get over it. However, It also shows what fear and lack of communication can do to a relationship. 1 Tim. 2:7 says "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."You can't have an effective relationship with out communication. It shows what happens when you don't listen to what is being communicated to you. Listening is the most important part of communication. Also you must have communication with God. You must listen and heed to the voice of God.John 10:27 says "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:"I felt that they introduced more people into the book but left them and there situation hanging. (BO, Vicki)I guess we will find out what happens to them in the next book.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)What a powerful story of love, hope and faith Angela Benson has woven in Abiding Hope. If you read Awakening Mercy, you will be reintroduced to Marvin and Shay. We found out in the previous "Genesis House" novel, that this couple suffered a tremendous tragedy, the loss of their only son. After a separation, the two start their life again. At the beginning of this novel, the couple is relocating from Atlanta to Mississippi to start another Genesis House.At some point in a relationship, a married couple (any couple) will be put to the test. The success of the marriage depends on how the couple handles conflicts and trials. The bliss of this renewed marriage is threatened when Shay becomes pregnant. Shay had been longing for another child and is overjoyed. Unfortunately, Marvin does not respond in the same way. Marvin's fear and reactions to this new child places a wedge between the couple. As this wedge gets deeper and deeper, Shay and Marvin must learn the hard way that their problems not only effect them but those around them.The author does a great job NOT be one-sided in this novel. She could have easily pulled the reader to the expectant mother's side (especially those desiring children like this reader). You can easily think of Marvin as being overly silly and doubting God, but the author pushes the reader to view both sides. There is always two sides to a coin. I love how Benson brings the husband and wife to this realization.

I enjoyed reading this book! I could not place it down. I learned a lot from this book. First, I learned that you cannot live selfishly in a relationship because it can cause a lot of unneccessary hurt and pain. Secondly, I learned that you must place your trust totally in God and not in past experiences. Marvin was afraid to accept God's gift of love and hope again, due to his past experiences. Thirdly, I learned that relationships are more important to God than anything. Shay and Marvin gave Bo a second chance at life by spending time with him and allowing him to make his mistakes and at the same time constructively correcting him of his mistakes. Lastly, I learned that good friends are hard to come by. Shay's friend Vickie is such a committed and dedicated friend. Though Shay and Marvin experienced difficulties in their relationship, Vickie, nor their other friend Daniel never tried to come between them or take advantage of the problems in their marriage. Some people will try and manipulate your husband or wife and take advantage of them. Angela Benson has written a marvelous novel and I'm sure it will bless many others as it has blessed me!

Angela Benson is a very well known and talented romance writer. She creates wonderful characters and vivid story lines that are not easily forgotten.Abiding Hope is her second installment in the Genesis House Series. Shay and Marvin are both praying people, the only thing about this husband and wife team is that they are both praying different prayers.Shay wants to have another child. Marvin does not. Their son Marvin Jr. was killed in a car accident. Shay wants to have a child that she can love and that will have the characteristics of her and her husband. When their son died, Marvin walked out on her. Since that time, they reconciled and she wants to get their life back. The missing ingredient is a child. Not any child, but theirs. So she prays to God to bless her with another child. They tried for 4 years after their son was killed and nothing happened. She didn't want to give up Hope.Marvin was not encouraging Shay's desire to have another child. He wanted to try to move on with their lives the way it was. It didn't want to feel the pain that comes with loosing a child. His prayer was "well nothing has happened all this time" so evidentally Shay can't get pregnant anymore.When Shay tells Marvin that she is indeed with child, he can't believe that she is. He didn't want to tell their friends until she was past her first trimester. That did not set well with Shay. She couldn't believe that Marvin was acting that way. The Lord had blessed them with this child. Marvin and Shay struggle with their feelings and the new life they are starting in Odessa, Mississippi. They use their prayer life to keep the understanding of how the other feels.This story was a really wonderful story. To keep the faith in a situation that seems impossible. May that is why they say that faith is the substance of things hope for and the evidence of things not seen. Shay believed that the Lord was going to bless her with a child. Marvin finally realized that the Lord was giving them another chance to love a child. It also brought them back together as strong as ever. We must never give up hope. No matter the situation, hope is something we must grab hold to. My favorite Angela Benson novel are Bands of Gold, Family Wedding, A Second Chance Dad and The Way Home.